The Mpox virus , previously known as monkeypox , that was previously endemic in Central and West Africa , has now escalated into a global crisis . First identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970 , the virus primarily affects rodents and nonhuman primates but can spread to humans . Historically confined to Central and West Africa , Mpox saw a significant outbreak in 2022 , spreading to countries with no previous history of the disease , including the United States and several European nations .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern ( PHEIC ) on July 23 , 2022 , as the outbreak rapidly spread to over 100 countries . This urgency underscores the need for immediate and coordinated action to prevent further spread . This year ( 2024 ), the WHO reported over 17,000 suspected cases in Africa alone , exceeding the total seen in 2023 . The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) has been particularly severe , with over 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths reported since January 2023 . Two distinct strains of the virus , Clade I and the newly identified Clade Ib , are now circulating , with Clade Ib showing a higher transmission rate .
Factors contributing to spread
• Dense Population :
• Travel
• Healthcare Infrastructure
• Animal Reservoirs
• Immunity & Vaccination
Globally , over 99,176 Mpox cases and 208 deaths have been reported from 116 countries since 2022 . But unlike COVID-19 , effective vaccines and antivirals are available to protect the population against the spread of infection . The WHO has called for an urgent increase in vaccine production , particularly for African nations hit hardest by the outbreak . The MVA-BN vaccine , also known as Modified Vaccinia Ankara- Bavarian Nordic , is currently the only vaccine approved across major regions like the EU , United States , and Canada . Other vaccines , such as Japan ' s LC16 and Russia ' s OrthopoxVac , have also been approved in specific regions .
The Indian scenario
As the world continues to grapple with the implications of Mpox , India remains on high alert , taking preventive measures to ensure the safety of its citizens . According to experts , the country having barely emerged from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic , cannot afford to let its guard down . With Mpox cases creeping closer , experts are sounding the alarm and calling for immediate preventive measures to avert a potential health crisis . India has so far reported two new cases of Mpox in the recent times . First one is of a young male traveler who returned from a country experiencing active Mpox
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